1. When am I most defensive? When defnsivness occurs what need am I seeking to fufill? How can I relate it to God?
2. How do I view God? In what areas of my life to forget that he is our Father and treat him more like a tyrant? What lies do I believe about myself and about him? What is the truth opposed to these lies? Have I allowed any false images to influence my behavior?
3. Do I go to God, Our Father, each day in prayer? How do I approach him in prayer? Do I ask him for holy indifference flowing from my trust in him?

Today’s readings can be found here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/091320.cfm

You can subscribe to future audio versions of homilies here: https://frwill.fireside.fm/

(24th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Mass in the Ordinary Form of the Latin Rite)

“Reckon him no more amongst the number of thy brethren. But yet neither is his salvation on that account to be neglected. For the very heathen, that is, the Gentiles and Pagans, we do not reckon among the number of brethren; but yet are we ever seeking their salvation” – St. Augustine

Questions for us to ponder:

1. Have I given into the relativism of our cultural situation?
2. When it is necessary to correct another how well does my approach align with Jesus’s call to charitable fraternal correction?
3. Do I shy away too much from conflict when I should speak to a brother or sister? Or do I, on the other hand, concern myself with things that are not my business to correct? What am I doing to work to foster charity?
4. Do I engage in gossip, either in person or online? If so what am I doing to overcome this sin in my life?
   

Today’s readings can be found here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/090620.cfm

You can subscribe to future audio versions of homilies here: https://frwill.fireside.fm/

(23th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Mass in the Ordinary Form of the Latin Rite)

The Prophet Jeremiah is in anguish because the words of the Lord, which could be instruments of salvation if heeded, fall on deaf ears and hardened hearts. Peter echoes Jeremiah’s anguish today. He rejects the Cross. He does not want the anguish of witnessing his friend fail. We should remember that this is often our human reaction as well. But this is not the end of Peter’s journey; Peter learns to think according to the will of God and literally takes up his cross dying in imitation of him. Brothers and Sisters, the cost of discipleship is high; in fact, to follow Jesus means to imitate him: where the Master goes, the disciple follows. This means we must be willing to accept the Cross in our lives; we must accept the anguish of failing in integrity. But it is precisely from this anguish of having failed in every human sense of the word, that testimony is given. The folly of the Cross becomes the salvation of all. Brothers and sisters, to share in his anguished heart which beats for every human soul. What greater joy could be found?

Questions for us to ponder:

1. What/where have I encountered the Cross in my life? Where do I encounter failure from a human perspective? How has God used that failure to bear witness to the hope we should have in him?
2. Where or to whom am I called to be a prophet of hope today?
3. What sinful habits or tendencies do I tend to use to avoid the Cross in my life?

Today’s readings can be found here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/083020.cfm

You can subscribe to future audio versions of homilies here: https://frwill.fireside.fm/

(18th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Mass in the Ordinary Form of the Latin Rite)

For her benefit and for our benefit, the Lord draws faith out of the Canaanite woman. She becomes a remarkable example of what trusting prayer in faith looks like: Faith which is prompted by God coming to meet us first; Faith which does not deny our own needs while at the same time being compassionate towards others; faith that is persistent in asking for what we need and what others need; faith that asks for intercession from others; faith that is, above all else, humble, which recognizes with gratitude the gift God gives us. For when we desire in prayer, nothing other than the will of God, then it will be done in our lives.

Questions to Ponder

1. When have you experienced silence from God? How have you reacted to God's seeming silence?
2. How might God be working in your life to greater faith right now?
3. What are areas of your life in which it is difficult to trust the Lord? What "harsh words" might the Lord use to rouse your faith?
4. Who can you ask to pray for your intercessions today? Who can you pray for? (go do it, now!)